|
|
|
|
|
Search for Issue: "Freedom of information" returned 47 records. |
| > |
meetings/conferences 01 November 2005 |
| > |
II ENCONTRO EN DEFENSA DOS DIREITOS E AS LIBERDADES
PÚBLICAS: O ACESO À INFORMACIÓN [2nd meeting in defence of civil rights and liberties: access to information] |
| > |
2nd meeting in defence of civil rights and liberties, organised by Esculca, which will focus on public access to information in Spain, the EU and at an international level. |
| > |
Vigo, Spain 16-18 November 2005
|
| > |
Conference programme,
Esculca website
|
| > |
Esculca |
| |
| > |
campaigns/open letters 11 November 2005 |
| > |
Refugees in Germany demand right to free movement |
| > |
Cornelius Yufanyi, a refugee from Cameroon and member of the human rights organisation The Voice Refugee Forum is threatened with imprisonment for having violated the travel restriction regulation imposed on asylum seekers in Germany. The refugee and human rights group is demanding an end to the proceedings and asking for support in their fax campaign to demand the right to free movement and an end to exceptional laws for foreigners in Germany. |
| > |
The Voice Refugee Forum
|
| > |
The Voice Refugee Forum |
| |
| > |
campaigns/open letters 11 November 2005 |
| > |
Freedom of Information campaign in Germany |
| > |
In cooperation with other associations, the Humanistic Union is collecting signatures through the webpage www.pro-information.de to lobby for the introduction of a law on freedom of information in Germany. The aim is to collect at least 50,000 supporters for the campaign. The site also contains background material on freedom of information. |
| > |
Support the campaign,
Background information
|
| > |
Humanistische Union |
| |
| > |
links to ECLN groups 11 November 2005 |
| > |
Access to Information Programme |
| > |
Launched in 1996 by journalists, lawyers and academics working on human rights issues |
| > |
Bulgaria
|
| > |
website
|
| |
| > |
links to ECLN groups 11 November 2005 |
| > |
Esculca
|
| > |
Observatory on civil rights and liberties based in Galicia |
| > |
Spain
|
| > |
Esculca website
|
| |
| > |
links to ECLN groups 11 November 2005 |
| > |
Humanistische Union |
| > |
Founded in 1961, Germany's oldest civil liberties organisation |
| > |
Germany
|
| > |
website
|
| |
| > |
links to ECLN groups 11 November 2005 |
| > |
Statewatch |
| > |
Monitoring the state and civil liberties in Europe |
| > |
UK
|
| > |
Statewatch website
|
| |
| > |
publications/research 11 November 2005 |
| > |
The right to know or the right to try and find out? The need for an EU freedom of information law |
| > |
Policy-makers in the EU have long had a narrow view of “openness”, based
on an equally narrow view of transparency. The EU believes that the more
information it provides to the public, the more the public will get involved,
and the more open – and hence legitimate – the EU will become. This,
unfortunately, does not appear to be the case. |
| > |
November 2005
|
| > |
full-text,
Secret Europe (Statewatch)
|
| > |
Ben Hayes, Statewatch |
| |
| > |
meetings/conferences 20 November 2005 |
| > |
22nd Chaos Communication Congress. 22C3: Private Investigations |
| > |
The 22nd Chaos Communication Congress (22C3) is a four-day conference on technology, society and utopia. The Congress offers lectures and workshops on a multitude of topics including (but not limited to) information technology, IT-security, internet, cryptography and generally a critical-creative attitude towards technology and the discussion about the effects of technological advances on society. The Congress has established itself as the "European Hacker Conference" bringing in people from all over Europe and even further away. It not only addresses the techno geek but also those who are interested in appliances and their effects on society. Lectures will be held predominantly in English, a few in German. The language used for each lecture is clearly marked in the conference program. |
| > |
BCC Berliner Congress Center, Berlin (Germany) 27 - 30 December 2005
|
| > |
Chaos Computer Club,
Conference (Call for papers, contact, etc.)
|
| > |
Chaos Computer Club (CCC) |
| |
| > |
campaigns/open letters 25 November 2005 |
| > |
Serious attacks on human rights and the right to freedom of expression both inside and outside the World Summit on the Information Society. Open letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. |
| > |
This week in Tunis, at the World Summit on the Information Society, both inside and outside the official Summit, we have witnessed serious attacks on human rights and the right to freedom of expression. These attacks have included harassment of delegates, assaults on Tunisian and international journalists and human rights defenders, denial of entry to the country, the blocking of websites, the censorship of documents and speeches, and the prevention and disruption of meetings. |
| > |
Full-text,
Communications Rights in the Information Society (CRIS)
|
| > |
International Federation for Human Rights |
| |
| > |
campaigns/open letters 15 December 2005 |
| > |
Open letter to Mr. A. Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus
Amendments to the Criminal Code /Serious infringements to freedom of association and expression |
| > |
On 8 December 2005, the Belarusian Criminal Code was amended. Human rights groups warn these amendments constitute violations of international and regional standards of freedom of expression and association. Civil liberties groups fear that human rights defenders be particularly targeted, since most independent human rights NGOs were forbidden during the past three years. The partitipation in "mass activities" is also criminalised and "people suspected of terrorism or vandalism may be detained for ten days before being charged". |
| > |
Open letter
|
| > |
International Federation for Human Rights |
| |
| > |
links to ECLN groups 19 December 2005 |
| > |
Privacy International |
| > |
PI is a human rights group formed in 1990 as a watchdog on surveillance and privacy invasions by governments and corporations |
| > |
December 2005
|
| > |
PI website
|
| |
| > |
publications/research 29 December 2005 |
| > |
MISC - Multi-systems & Internet Security Cookbook |
| > |
Launch issue of a new bi-monthly German language computer magazine offering advice on practical defences to interception and laws relating to security. Concentrates on the limitations of anti-virus programmes, intrusion prevention and detection systems and personal firewalls. Regular features cover new technological developments in IT security. Order: redaktion@miscmag.de |
| > |
December 2005
|
| > |
MiscMag
|
| > |
MiscMag |
| |
| > |
links to ECLN groups 05 January 2006 |
| > |
Access Info Europe |
| > |
Working on freedom of information issues and campaigns across Europe, based in Madirid |
| > |
December 2005
|
| > |
website
|
| |
| > |
publications/research 09 January 2006 |
| > |
Damning documentary evidence unveiled. Dissident bloggers in coordinated exposé of UK government lies over torture. |
| > |
"With Tony Blair and Jack Straw cornered on extraordinary rendition, the UK government is particularly anxious to suppress all evidence of our complicity in obtaining intelligence extracted by foreign torturers. The Foreign Office is now seeking to block publication of Craig Murray's forthcoming book, which documents his time as Ambassador to Uzbekistan. The Foreign Office has demanded that Craig Murray remove all references to two especially damning British government documents, indicating that our government was knowingly receiving information extracted by the Uzbeks through torture, and return every copy that he has in his possession. Craig Murray is refusing to do this. Instead, the documents have been published on blogs all around the world. |
| > |
29 December 2005
|
| > |
Murray documents,
craigmurray.org.uk
|
| > |
Craig Murray |
| |
| > |
meetings/conferences 23 January 2006 |
| > |
Will it Work? An Open Debate on Wallström’s White Paper on Information and European Democracy |
| > |
The White paper has been long awaited and this will be the first opportunity to examine its contents at the start of the consultation process. Margot Wallström will both present the White Paper and after brief reactions from the panel, answer questions from the participants. Participation is free, but by registration only. |
| > |
Brussels, Belgium 1 February 2006
|
| > |
Programme,
register
|
| > |
ECAS, EurActiv, Friends of Europe and Journalists @ Your Service |
| |
| > |
campaigns/open letters 28 March 2006 |
| > |
CPT, l'informazione negata |
| > |
Italian journalists are denied access to detantion centres for migrants (CPTs). This practice "has so far been adopted so scrupulously as to make the question arise inevitably: what is there to hide?" |
| > |
CPT, l'informazione negata,
CPT, the denial of information,
MeltingPot Project
|
| > |
Appeal by Italian journalists |
| |
| > |
campaigns/open letters 05 April 2006 |
| > |
FoI advocates letter to Council of Europe Steering Committee on Human Rights on access to documents |
| > |
In the first week of April, 2006, the Council of Europe's Steering Committee on Human Rights will review the interim report of the expert Working Group on Access to Official Documents (DH-S-AC) and, it is hoped, approve the next phase of drafting the treaty. The Working Group is recommending a treaty based strongly on the Recommendation 2002 with mention of the fact that this is a right and with a limited list of exemptions. More than thirty FOIAdvocates members and activists have submitted a letter of support to the Council of Europe. |
| > |
Full-text of the letter,
Access Info Europe,
FOIAnet news
|
| > |
Access Info Europe |
| |
| > |
meetings/conferences 13 April 2006 |
| > |
European Coordination Committee on Human Rights Documentation - 29th meeting |
| > |
The aims of meeting are: a) to discuss new and relevant themes of common interest, both with regard to the context of human rights documentation work as well as issues of particular interest to information workers and documentalists; b) to share experiences in doing documentation and information work on a daily basis; c). to develop strategies for collaboration on specific themes and in response to new technological opportunities. The local organiser is the International Secretariat of Amnesty International. |
| > |
London 8-9 June 2006
|
| > |
Invitation, online registration form & agenda
|
| > |
ECCHRD |
| |
| > |
publications/research 20 May 2006 |
| > |
FoeBuD Newsletter |
| > |
The "Association for the Promotion of Public Data Traffic" publishes and organises events on freedom of information and computer technology. Their site contains a wealth of useful information on new control techologies and legislation, such as RFID chips, CCTV surveillance and general data protection and civil liberties issues. The April newsletter informs about their anti-RFID campaign, the world cup, CCTV surveillance at universities, amongst others. |
| > |
April 2006
|
| > |
Newsletter archive,
FoeBuD
|
| > |
Verein zur Förderung des öffentlichen bewegten und unbewegten Datenverkehrs e.V. |
| |
| > |
publications/research 20 May 2006 |
| > |
www.eulobbytours.org |
| > |
In addition to CEOs regular walking tours in Brussels, this EU lobbying watchdog has now launched a new website featuring a virtual tour of the EU quarter. During the cyber-tour (including video, 3-D animated images and short texts), you will be introduced to the headquarters of lobby groups, think tanks, individual corporations, PR companies, law firms and other key players in EU corporate politics, all located conveniently close to the corridors of power. While you click your way through the EU quarter, you will be introduced to concrete examples of deceptive lobbying, privileged political access and other problematic practices that undermine the democratic process. |
| > |
2006
|
| > |
Click here to start your cybertour through the Brussels EU quarter,
CEO
|
| > |
Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) |
| |
| > |
meetings/conferences 21 May 2006 |
| > |
Dutch Social Forum |
| > |
Following the World Social Forum and the European Social Forum, the Dutch Social Forum is an open meeting place for the exchange of ideas, the creation and the strengthening of networks and a breeding ground for action. The DSF aims to unite as many people as possible who want to work on a different world, and a different Holland. |
| > |
Nijmegen. 21/05/2006
|
| > |
DSF website
|
| |
| > |
publications/research 21 May 2006 |
| > |
WM 2006: Die Welt ueberwacht von Freunden. (World Cup 2006: the world put under surveillance by friends) |
| > |
This excellent edition of the German language journal published by the the police and civil liberties watchdog Buergerrecht & Polizei/CILIP, focuses on security measures and police cooperation implemented prior to, during and after the world cup. Contains overview and analysis of police powers and surveillance methods and critical football fans report on the repression they face, amongst others. Non-theme articles include an analysis of the current trials taking place in Genoa, dealing with the 2001 summit violence, and how Morocco is taking on the role of a police assistant in Ceuta and Melilla. |
| > |
Berlin 01/04/2006
|
| > |
CILIP,
Order details,
English summaries
|
| > |
CILIP |
| |
| > |
campaigns/open letters 08 June 2006 |
| > |
Manchester Declaration on Access to Information |
| > |
Following the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) meeting on May 24th in Manchester, the Open Society Justice Initiative in cooperation with Access Info Europe and the FOI Advocates Network convened a civil society meeting to review and discuss the issues presented at the commissioners' meeting. Twenty-eight civil society organisations adopted the Manchester Declaration on Access to Information, to follow up the similar declaration issued by civil society groups after the Cancun ICIC in 2005. |
| > |
Manchester declaration,
FOI Advocates Network,
Access Info Europe,
OSI Justice Initiative: FOI
|
| > |
OSI, Access Info Europe, FOI Advocates Network |
| |
| > |
meetings/conferences 19 June 2006 |
| > |
Book Launch: Human Rights in the Global Information Society |
| > |
The book is edited by Rikke Frank Jørgensen and the contributors examine the links between information technology and human rights - freedom of expression, access to information, privacy, discrimination, gender equality, intellectual property, political participation, and freedom of assembly in the context of information and communication technology - exploring the ways in which the information society can either advance human rights around the world or threaten them. The presentation will be followed by a keynote from Gus Hosein, author of the chapter on Privacy. |
| > |
Danish Institute for Human Rights, Copenhagen 23 June 2006, 13:00-15:30
|
| > |
Details
|
| > |
Danish Institute for Human Rights & Danish WSIS |
| |
| > |
campaigns/open letters 02 July 2006 |
| > |
Call to abolish secret service after renewed civil liberties scandal |
| > |
This open letter by three main German civil liberties organisations (see below) renews the long-standing civil society demand to abolish the German secret service (Verfassungsschutz) on grounds of its inherent unconstitutionality. This recent campaign is triggered by yet again another scandal uncovering illegal spying operations by the German service against socially active individuals, this time targeting university professor Peter Grottian, active in the Berlin social forum and victim of surveillance for the last three years. This press release provides background information on the spying scandal and the undemocratic and unconstitutional working methods of the regional secret service of Berlin, and calls for the abolition of all regional and the national secret services, which have no legitimacy in a democracy. |
| > |
Press release,
Komitee für Grundrechte und Demokratie e.V.,
Republikanischer Anwältinnen- und Anwälteverein e.V.,
Humanistische Union
|
| > |
German civil liberties coalition |
| |
| > |
meetings/conferences 28 July 2006 |
| > |
10 Years Advocacy for Access to Information |
| > |
Ten years ago, on Octover 23, 1996 Access to Information Programme was established in Sofia, Bulgaria with a mission to promote the right to information and initiate a public debate on relevant issues.
To mark the event, AIP plans to hold a 10 Years Advocacy for Access to Information Conference on October 27, 2006. |
| > |
Sofia, Bulgaria 27 October 2006
|
| > |
AIP website,
FOIA net
|
| > |
Access to Information Programme |
| |
| > |
campaigns/open letters 31 August 2006 |
| > |
SEEMO concerned about worsening press freedom situation in Serbia and
Croatia |
| > |
The Vienna-based SEEMO, a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East Europe
and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is deeply concerned about the worsening situation for journalists in Serbia and
Croatia. In a press release, SEEMO cites a number of attacks and threats against journalists, prison sentences given to journalists and restrictions on access to information. |
| > |
SEEMO press release,
SEEMO website
|
| > |
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) |
| |
| > |
publications/research 31 August 2006 |
| > |
Hungary: A new Act on classified information? |
| > |
The Hungarian Government submitted the draft of a new Act on classified information (ACI) to parliament in early December 2005. Parliament discussed it in an expedited procedure and completed its first reading within two weeks. Debate continued throughout January. The only obstacle that arose came about because the government had not attached the Penal Code’s amendments regarding the criminal sanctions of illegally disclosing classified information.1 Although the press, and the smaller coalition party, raised this issue the adoption of the ACI appeared to be straightforward. This was the situation when three NGOs (the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, Protect the Future and the Press Freedom Centre) intervened to demand that the Government revoke the draft and prepare a completely new document. |
| > |
August 2006
|
| > |
HCLU report,
HCLU website
|
| > |
Hungarian Civil Liberties Union |
| |
| > |
publications/research 02 September 2006 |
| > |
Between moral cowardice and illegality: the Government takes another step to consolidate the Spanish model of impunity |
| > |
The report of the "Inter-Ministerial Commission" and the "Draft Law to recognise and broaden rights and to establish measures in favour of those who suffered persecution or violence during the Civil War and the dictatorship", the submission of which to the Houses of Parliament was approved by the Council of Ministers on 28th July 2006, are consistent with the contents of the motion of Deputy Ramón Jáuregui Atondo, which was passed by Congress on 1st June 2004, and, specifically, with the report requested in the said motion. This demonstrates that notwithstanding the delays in submitting the report, there existed a pre-existing agreement on the subject. This agreement does not reflect the demands of the victims' and human rights associations. |
| > |
Brussels and Madrid 1 September 2006
|
| > |
Report in English,
Información Español,
Radio Nizkor
|
| > |
Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights |
| |
| > |
publications/research 03 October 2006 |
| > |
Esculca bulletin, n.14 |
| > |
Esculca's bulletin looks at the legal situation of migrant women employed as housemaids in conditions of "modern slavery", focuses on freedom of information and access to documents, analyses abuses in the war on terror with special emphasis on renditions and the philosophical framework behind illegal practices, and provides a round-up of civil liberties issues in Galicia. |
| > |
Galicia September 2006
|
| > |
Esculca bulletin,
Esculca
|
| > |
Esculca, Observatório para a Defensa dos Direitos e Liberdades |
| |
| > |
publications/research 13 October 2006 |
| > |
Conference report: Electronic health cards and the capitalist-technological-medical complex |
| > |
From 22-24 September 2006, the German civil liberties organisation Komitee für Grundrechte und Demokatie held a conference on recent developments in the health care system with view to civil liberties and human rights implications. The conference put forward a fundamental critique of electronic health cards soon to be introduced in Germany. But not only data protection is at risk, the conference reports that bureaucratisation and economisation increasingly determine the doctor-patient relationship and that health is becoming an unequally distributed commodity. A conference report in German can be requested by mail: info@grundrechtekomitee.de |
| > |
Berlin
|
| > |
The e-card: big promise & disappontment,
Conference outline,
Home Page Grundrechtekomitee
|
| > |
Grundrechtekomitee |
| |
| > |
campaigns/open letters 07 November 2006 |
| > |
Worst EU Lobby Award 2006 - Vote Now! |
| > |
This year, the voting for the awards takes place in two different categories: 'the Worst EU Lobbying' for that lobbyist who goes the extra mile in deception and spin; and 'The Worst Privileged Access' for the public servant or politician who's just too cosy with a particular lobby group. The EU lobby awards are organised by Corporate Europe Observatory, Friends of the Earth Europe, LobbyControl and Spinwatch. |
| > |
Worst EU Lobby Award 2006,
Worst EU Lobby Award 2005,
Corporate Europe Observatory
|
| |
| > |
meetings/conferences 12 January 2007 |
| > |
World Social Forum 2007 |
| > |
The 7th World Social Forum (WSF) will be held from 20 until 25 January 2007 at the Moi International Sports Center Kasarani, Nairobi and is expected to host up to 150,000 delegates from all over the world. Over 1,000 activities will take place in the 106 spaces provided at the venue. Rallying around the call of Another World Is Possible, the World Social Forum has placed social justice, international solidarity, gender equality, peace and defence of the environment on the agenda of the world’s peoples. From its modest origins in Porto Alegre in the year 2001, to Mumbai, Bamako, Caracas, Karachi and now Nairobi, the forces and the contingents of the World Social Forum have collectively expanded the democratic spaces of those seeking concrete, sustainable and progressive alternatives to neo-liberalism and imperialist globalisation. |
| > |
Nairobi 20/01/2007
|
| > |
WSF website
|
| |
| > |
campaigns/open letters 02 February 2007 |
| > |
“Decreto Gentiloni” e contrasto alla pedopornografia & La violenza giovanile e il caso Google: ennesimo pretesto per invocare censura e repressione |
| > |
Two statements by ALCEI, which works in defence of Internet freedom in Italy. The first criticises the establishment, as a measure implementing the law against prostitution, pornography, sexual tourism involving children and new forms of slavery, of the “National centre to combat paedopornography” to collect information, investigate people suspected of divulging material with paedopornographic content and draw up blacklists of websites and illegal contents, which ISPs will have to block or remove within six hours of communication. “Experience has amply shown how this kind of measures is ineffective in the ‘protection of minors’, in the prevention or repression of violence, etcetera, while it opens up the road to all sorts of censorship, prohibition and intrusiveness that can be indiscriminately applied to any kind of ‘unwelcome’ opinion.”
The second expresses alarm about the debate that followed the publication on Youtube of images of a disabled child being ill-treated by classmates, in which responsibility was apportioned to “Internet” rather than the culprits, and there were renewed calls for “censorship and repression”, with ISPs and search engines singled out as targets for punishment (and Google facing possible penal proceedings in this case) if they fail to monitor and censor contents. |
| > |
“Decreto Gentiloni” e contrasto alla pedopornografia (Italian),
La violenza giovanile e il caso Google: ennesimo pretesto per invocare censura e repressione,
The "Google case" in Italy: one more excuse for censorship and repression (English),
ALCEI website
|
| > |
ALCEI, Associazione per la Libertà nelle Comunicazioni Elettroniche Interattive |
| |
| > |
publications/research 02 February 2007 |
| > |
Access Information: A Universal Right, A Universal Standard |
| > |
As Council of Europe experts debate the conversion of Recommendation 2002(2) on Access to Official Documents into a binding treaty, two issues need to be addressed. The first, is whether the right is of is one of access to documents or access to information, the second, is whether there exists sufficient consistency in international standards to require that the future treaty to set binding standards rather than laying out a shopping list of options available to member states. This paper shows that the right to information that has emerged in the past four decades is a right of access to information rather than a narrower right of access to documents. Core standards on access to information exist, indicating that any future treaty developed by the Council of Europe should set absolute standards. It is recommended that, whatever form the final treaty takes, the Council of Europe ensure that it enshrines the highest standards set by access to information laws in Europe and globally. |
| > |
Madrid 17 January 2007
|
| > |
Access Information: A Universal Right, A Universal Standard,
Access Info Europe website
|
| > |
Access Info Europe |
| |
| > |
meetings/conferences 01 March 2007 |
| > |
La regulación del acceso a los archivos que testimonian la represión en el proyecto de ley de "memoria histórica": respeto a la intimidad o vía de impunidad? |
| > |
Public conference and debate session organised by the Association of Spanish Civil Service Archive Workers, a group that is working for the defence of public archives as a guarantee of administrative transparency and the defence of citizens' rights. AEFP draws attention to an article in the draft "law on historical memory" that replaces access to documents identifying possible culprits or people involved in specific actions, with a certification of their content. In relation to documents about repression in Spain's recent history, they ask: is it protection of privacy or a way to ensure impunity? |
| > |
Madrid 7 March 2007
|
| > |
Presentation of the Conference,
AEFP website
|
| > |
ARCHIVEROS ESPAÑOLES EN LA FUNCIÓN PÚBLICA (AEFP) |
| |
| > |
publications/research 29 May 2007 |
| > |
Fundamental Rights Report 2007 (German) |
| > |
Since 1997, nine civil liberties and human rights organisations publish an annual human rights report on Germany, in which they test the German government’s conduct against every legally binding human rights and civil liberties provision laid down in the German Constitution. With a plethora of examples of state surveillance, infringements, discrimination and violations of High Court decisions, the year 2006 will also be known as a year in which fundamental rights were systematically violated by the authorities. The legitimate use of ‘torture’ debate, the use of emetics against foreigners, indiscriminate data collection during the world cup, the surveillance and interception of communication of civil rights activists, the electronic health card linking sensitive data between authorities, US-EU data transfers, unlawful detention and deportation to torturing states, police violence, employment bans, eroding the protection of journalists’ sources, unlawful police raids…the list of fundamental civil rights violations seems endless. The Fundamental Rights Report is written and compiled by the following organisations, which have announced the focus of the next year’s report will be the criminalisation and curtailment of G8 protests: Humanistische Union, Gustav Heinemann-Initiative, Komitee für Grundrechte und Demokratie, Bundesarbeitskreis Kritischer Juragruppen, Pro Asyl, Republikanischer Anwaltsverein, Vereinigung demokratischer Juristinnen und Juristen, Internationale Liga für Menschenrechte, Neue Richtervereinigung. |
| > |
May 2007
|
| > |
Commentary on the report,
Press release Humanistische Union,
List of Contents (German),
Order online
|
| > |
“Internationale Liga für Menschenrechte” et al. |
| |
| > |
demonstrations 29 May 2007 |
| > |
Antiracist G8 'action and events' calendar |
| > |
Between 2 and 7 June, thousands of refugees, migrants and activist will protest against the G8. In this context , mass actions and information events will take place under the slogans: ‘For Global Freedom of Movement’ and ‘Equal Rights for All’. Below you find links to the 'choreography of resistance', and events calendar. CALL OUT DECEMBER 2005: "We are here, because you are destroying our countries." This central slogan of the ‘Caravan for the rights of refugees and migrants’ explicitly links capitalist destruction on the one hand to flight and migration on the other. The G8-governments - as well as the WTO, IMF and World Bank - are not only responsible for neocolonial relations of exploitation; they also increasingly rely on and further the intensification of processes of selection and exclusion in the Northern parts of the globe, the intensification of legal, social and political hierarchies. It is these and other developments - whether in the North or the South - that lead us to speak of a system of global Apartheid. [...] |
| > |
Heiligendamm/Rostock, Germany 2-7 June 2007
|
| > |
Updated events calendar,
Working Group Migration of the protest networks,
Caravan of Refugees and Migrants tours Germany
|
| |
| > |
campaigns/open letters 21 July 2007 |
| > |
"Melting Pot controllato dal SISMI" |
| > |
Melting Pot responds to extracts of SISMI (military secret service) documents in Repubblica newspaper that reveal the surveillance of Melting Pot, naming its members, among other NGOs. Notes that SISMI is arbitrarily turning professionals into suspects and that "it would be even more serious if the list of names compiled in the report... had been followed by the violation of the privacy and activity of these persons contributors of the Progetto Melting Pot Europa". These developments followed a resolution by the Italian Consiglio Superiore della Magistratura (CSM) criticising surveillance activity targeting judges. |
| > |
"Melting Pot controllato dal SISMI",
CSM resolution
|
| > |
Melting Pot editorial board |
| |
| > |
campaigns/open letters 24 August 2007 |
| > |
Lobbying' Awards 2007 - Call for Nominations |
| > |
This year you can nominate for two categories. The 'Worst EU Lobbying' Award for the lobbyist, company or lobby group that in 2007 has employed the most deceptive, misleading, or otherwise problematic lobbying tactics in their attempts to influence EU decision-making. And the special 'Worst EU Greenwash' Award for the company whose advertising, PR and lobbying lingo is most at odds with the real environmental impacts of their core business activities. Until 15 September 2007 you can submit your nominations on http://www.worstlobby.eu/. In 2006 the ‘Worst EU Lobbying’ Award was won by oil giant ExxonMobil for its secretive funding of climate-skeptic think tanks. In 2005 the prize went to the bogus Campaign for Creativity, a front group used by large IT companies to lobby for software patents and intellectual property rights. |
| > |
Worst EU Lobbying and Greenwash Awards 2007
|
| > |
Corporate Europe Observatory, Friends of the Earth Europe, LobbyControl, Spinwatch |
| |
| > |
campaigns/open letters 05 September 2007 |
| > |
Council of Europe Treaty on Access to Documents: Civil Society Calls for Urgent Action
-- Draft Convention Fails to Ensure Adequate Protection of Right to Information |
| > |
The world’s first treaty to guarantee the right of access to information, currently being drafted by the Council of Europe, risks falling below prevailing European standards according to civil society groups from across Europe. The draft treaty has three major flaws:
1. Failure to include all official documents held by legislative bodies and judicial authorities within the mandatory scope of the treaty;
2. Failure to include official documents held by natural and legal persons insofar as they perform public functions within the mandatory scope of the treaty;
3. Failure to specify certain basic categories of official documents, such as those containing financial or procurement information, that must be published proactively. Urgent action is needed before 9 October (when the final drafting session of the Group of Specialists begins) to call for the Convention to contain acceptable minimum standards on the right of access to information.
|
| > |
Access-Info Europe
|
| > |
Access Info Europe, Article 19 and the Open Society Justice Initiative |
| |
| > |
campaigns/open letters 05 September 2007 |
| > |
5th International Right to Know Day |
| > |
International Right to Know Day was established to mark the founding on 28 September 2002 of the global Freedom of Information Advocates Network. It was first celebrated on 28 September 2003. The aim of Right to Know Day is to raise awareness of every individual’s right of access to government-held information: the right to know how elected officials are exercising power and how the tax-payers’ money is being spent. |
| > |
FOI Advocates Network
|
| > |
Freedom of Information Advocates Network |
| |
| > |
campaigns/open letters 12 November 2007 |
| > |
Campaign against the “11th European Police Congress“, 29th-30th of January 2008 in Berlin. Against a “Global Security Architecture”, for more security-critical behaviour! |
| > |
Police investigation methods and the global security apparatus are increasingly violating basic democratic and human rights. Police and intelligence services want to attain unrestricted access to personal data and internet user profiles. The “European Police Congress”, a forum where politicians, police authorities, intelligence services, the military and the security industry meet to discuss the implementation of new measures for data collection and prosecution facilitates the increasing social control and authoritarian state tendencies within the EU. The 2008 Congress takes place under the motto “Information technology – investigation – operation”. On Tuesday, 29 January 2008, Schäuble, the German Minister of Internal Affairs, will speak at the “Forum of European Ministers of Internal Affairs”. A coalition of civil liberties and social justice groups is organising protest actions, with the aim to reach broad segments of society. This recent initiative is seen as a potential extension of already existing campaigns: against data retention, against anti-terrorist laws, the EU border agency Frontex and the repressive EU migration regime, against police racism and militarism. |
| > |
11th European Police Congress home page,
More information about the campaign (English),
More information about the campaign (German)
|
| > |
Six Hills |
| |
| > |
publications/research 29 February 2008 |
| > |
"En Movemento" |
| > |
A new monthly civil rights newspaper produced by the Galician civil rights organisation, Movemento polos dereitos civis. |
| > |
Galicia (Spain) November 2007 - ongoing
|
| > |
MPDC,
En Movemento back issues
|
| > |
Movemento polos dereitos civis |
| |
| > |
publications/research 12 June 2008 |
| > |
Eyes Wide Shut? The Impact of Embedded Journalism on Dutch Newspaper Coverage of Afghanistan |
| > |
The Dutch Ministry of Defence offers journalists embedded expiditions to military operations of Dutch soldiers in Uruzgan. Under the embed policy, three journalists can travel from the Netherlands to Uruzgan every two weeks. They are hosted by the Dutch contingent and fall under the commander’s responsibility. Articles have to be submitted for review on operational security prior to publication. Dutch embedded journalists cooperate closely with the Ministry of Defence before, during and after their embed experience. Many have developed a close relationship with the military as a consequence. Embeddedness raises questions about objectivity, censorship and journalistic independence. A current research by the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies looks at embedded journalism, how it affects Dutch coverage of Afghanistan, and whether regulations for future reporting should be changed. As part of this research HCSS conducted a software-based text mining analysis on Dutch press coverage of Afghanistan. This analysis consists of two parts 1) the comparison of a sample of embedded and unembedded articles, and 2) the analysis of a sample of the complete Dutch press coverage of Afghanistan. Text analysis shows that embedded journalists write mainly about the Dutch troops and their military operational activities while unembedded reporters focus more on the socio-political situation in Afghanistan. While more journalists write about Afghanistan, the focus has narrowed, and the authors suggest that the close interaction between military and journalists may also jeopardise the independence of reporting. The report concludes that the Dutch press in general could benefit from maintaining a professional distance from the military, and finding more ways to complement embedded with unembedded reporting. |
| > |
April 2008
|
| > |
Hague Centre for Strategic Studies,
Download report
|
| > |
Hague Centre for Strategic Studies |
| |
|
|
